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Rec.Autos.Simulators Archive

Re: cheap controller recommendation?

9 posts by 9 people · 18 Jul 2000 - 18 Jul 2000 23:37 UTC

I have a cheap wheel (Saitek R100) which I use with my CH Pro Pedals USB. The R100 uses the basic Windows 2 axis 4 button controller. It does not come with any software. Nascar 3 and GPL accept multiple controllers. So I set up the wheel and the CH pro pedals. Dirt Track Racing supports 1 controller only. So I have to use the cheap pedals that came with the wheel. The R100 inputs in a range 0 to 255 or so. This is half of a decent wheel (e.g. Logitech is 0 to 655). So I feel, but don't know for sure, like I have less control. It is harder to keep the car going where I want to go. I have to do continuous corrections. I have played with the deadzone and this helps to a point. But I have less control than when I used to use a joystick with the pedals. Less control, but it feels more "natural" to be using a wheel. Has anyone ever swapped out a potentiometer? I was thinking about getting a more precise pot and putting it in my wheel. Where do I get a pot which can input a large range? What else should I keep in mind? Thanks -- Doug Appleyard "Got us a Dirt Track Date, demolition derby figure 8" -- Southern Culture On The Skids Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
I can't comment on the durability of a cheap wheel, but I have had good results with a simple analog stick (in my case, a CH Products Mach 1 for portability as I am a notebook user), or more recently, a nifty little controller from Interact which is a lot like a radio control car controller. It has a 2" diameter wheel for steering and a push-pull trigger for accelerating and braking. It takes some getting used to, but soon my lap times were the same as with a wheel and pedals. The older Interact (Racer PC?) should be available in Wal-Marts etc. for less than 20 bucks. The newer force-feedback version isn't as nice. Stephen "Phil Pease" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:NUYc5.1870$[email hidden]... > I am not much of a race car driver; but I have received Grand Prix II and > NASCAR Legends. I have tried them using the keyboard. I do OK with GPII; > but terrible with NASCAR Legends (crash). So, I am thinking that I needto > get some kind of controller in order to enjoy these games. > > I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more thanabout > $50. Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I playRPG
Quoted text (7 lines)> and Strategy games a lot). > > What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the > keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap) > wheel? > >
http://www.compgeeks.com/cgi-bin/prod_disp.asp?cat=InputDevices Check out the above link. I use the Logitech Wingman Formula and like it very much. The Guillermot wheel has FF. Mark Phil Pease <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:NUYc5.1870$[email hidden]... > I am not much of a race car driver; but I have received Grand Prix II and > NASCAR Legends. I have tried them using the keyboard. I do OK with GPII; > but terrible with NASCAR Legends (crash). So, I am thinking that I needto > get some kind of controller in order to enjoy these games. > > I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more thanabout > $50. Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I playRPG
Quoted text (7 lines)> and Strategy games a lot). > > What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the > keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap) > wheel? > >
Phil Pease 18 Jul 2000 13:25 UTC#254514
I am not much of a race car driver; but I have received Grand Prix II and NASCAR Legends. I have tried them using the keyboard. I do OK with GP II; but terrible with NASCAR Legends (crash). So, I am thinking that I need to get some kind of controller in order to enjoy these games. I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more than about $50. Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I play RPG and Strategy games a lot). What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap) wheel?
Steven Crook-Dawkins 18 Jul 2000 14:43 UTC#254454
Well. I used to use a Thrustmaster Sprint wheel, it was great, and it wasn't expensive. It comes with pedals which are a little too small, but would be fine for occassional use. Phil Pease wrote:
Quoted text (12 lines)> I am not much of a race car driver; but I have received Grand Prix II and > NASCAR Legends. I have tried them using the keyboard. I do OK with GP II; > but terrible with NASCAR Legends (crash). So, I am thinking that I need to > get some kind of controller in order to enjoy these games. > > I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more than about > $50. Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I play RPG > and Strategy games a lot). > > What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the > keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap) > wheel?
-- Steven Crook-Dawkins
Sideshow Bob 18 Jul 2000 16:11 UTC#254480
A good joystick may be the way to go. That way you have the controller for other types of games too. My first auto sim was TOCA and I used a MS Sidewinder. Just pretend you're flying a plane that doesn't climb or descend :-) and it works well. For a cheap (quite cheap) wheel, the Interact V3 isn't bad. I was saving up for a good FF wheel when my wife surprised me with the V3 for Xmas. I thought, if it's crap I'll return it but it turned out to be pretty good. It's obviously cheaply built but I've had it for a year and a half and it's still working fine. Phil Pease wrote in message ... >I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more thanabout >$50. >What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the >keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap) >wheel? >
Brett C. Cammack 18 Jul 2000 16:46 UTC#254393
On Tue, 18 Jul 2000 13:25:01 GMT, "Phil Pease" <[email hidden]> wrote: >I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more than about >$50. Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I play RPG >and Strategy games a lot). For dirt cheap and fairly decent controller wheels, go here: http://www.egghead.com/category/Software_all.htm and scroll to the bottom. They've got the Thrustmaster Super Sport and Charger wheels for $15.99 and $16.99 respectively. There are superior wheels for a lot more, but if you don't want to make a big commitment, these are exceptionally adequate for a good price. Regards. Brett C. Cammack That's Racing! Motorsports Pompano Beach, FL
Don Buskirk 18 Jul 2000 20:08 UTC#254431
The Andretti Racing Wheel was cheap and well rated by magazines. I have seen it in the $40s. Large pedals and USB connection. It also has mostly metal parts, so it seems tough. Phil Pease wrote in message ... > >I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more thanabout >$50. Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I playRPG
Quoted text (7 lines)>and Strategy games a lot). > >What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the >keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap) >wheel? > >
GTX_SlotCar 18 Jul 2000 23:37 UTC#254375
Phil, it's one of those things where, if you're going to spend $50, you might as well spend $100. So I'd say spend under $20 and get something like the Thrustmaster Nascar Charger wheel. It's a little finicky about the game port you plug it into, but it's surprisingly accurate. It takes up hardly any desk space, clamps on easily, and the gas and brake are levers mounted on the steering column so you won't have pedals and an extra wire to kick around. Plus, when your 5 yr. old grandchildren come over they can drive it. -- Slot www.slottweak.com Tweaks & Reviews "Phil Pease" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:NUYc5.1870$[email hidden]... > I am not much of a race car driver; but I have received Grand Prix II and > NASCAR Legends. I have tried them using the keyboard. I do OK with GP II; > but terrible with NASCAR Legends (crash). So, I am thinking that I need to > get some kind of controller in order to enjoy these games. > > I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more than about > $50. Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I play RPG > and Strategy games a lot). > > What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the > keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap) > wheel? > >

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